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Mike Brey: Catholic 7 should keep "Big East" name

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, whose team plays Marquette on Saturday, did not join the breakaway seven Catholic schools that are departing the Big East. The Irish will join the Atlantic Coast Conference, probably the year after next.

He said Notre Dame thought about it a year or so ago when talk first began that Marquette and six others would pull out to form their own league. But Brey said the ACC for basketball and continued independence for football best suited his school.

But when asked Thursday whether the seven should keep the Big East name, Brey said, "It almost seems fitting they should have the name. It's how they've carried the flag, those Catholic schools. It's going to be a heck of a league. It's a league we investigated a little bit.. We ended up in the ACC and we're excited about that challenge, whenever it happens and it looks like it might be a little longer. I think it would be fitting for them to have name with the history of those Catholic schools in the league."

Marquette has played Notre Dame in basketball more than any school except Wisconsin. If the Big East is still around next year, Marquette and Notre Dame would play at least one more time. Marquette's new league may not start until Notre Dame joins the ACC. Meanwhile, Brey and MU coach Buzz Williams said they would like to continue the rivalry.

Brey also said he did not think team captain Scott Martin's ailing knee would allow him to play against the Golden Eagles.

The Irish are just one game behind second-place Marquette in the Big East race with three games to play.

"We know we have the ultimate challenge playing Marquette in their building with a 24-game winning streak and Senior Day and all of the above," Brey said. "But our group has loved big challenges like this, especially on the road. We're excited about that challenge."

The Irish also unveiled fairly wild new uniforms that they will wear in the Big East tournament.

"I signed off on them," Brey said. "We're going for it. I love it. The players are still buzzing about it. That group of dudes I'm trying to get here over the next couple of years, I know they love it."

About Michael Hunt

Michael Hunt is a former sports columnist and reporter for the Journal Sentinel.